Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- -CHARLES M. YOUNG, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 [0,718, dated January 3, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. YOUNG, of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of harvesters known as "two-wheeledfront-cut hin gejoint machines 5 and the improvements herein claimed consist in the combination, substantially as hereinafter set forth, of a main frame, carrying one portion of the driving-gearin g, a frame carrying other portions of the gearing,

` hinged to the main frame and vibrating on an axis parallel with the tongue, and a universal joint connecting the two systems of gearing, said joint being also located in the plane of the hinges; also, in the combination of the main frame and vibrating gear-frame, as above mentioned, with a shoe secured to the vibrating frame and a finger-beam hinged tothe shoe, as hereinafter fully set forth also, in the combination of the main frame, the vibrating frame, the gearing, a crank-shaft mounted in said frame, and a rocking bar'or cross-head, oscillated by the crank-shaft and reciprocating the cutters, substantiallyr as hereinafter set forth; also, in the combination of the main frame, the vibrating gear-frame, the gearing, the shoe iixed to said frame, the nger-beam hinged to said shoe, the cutters, the cross-head rocking on the hinge of the nger-beam, and the crank-shaft which oscillates the cross-head; also, in the combination of the fixed shoe, a crank-arm on the pivot on which the fingerbeam rocks and by which it is tilted, and a hinged bail connecting the toe of the shoe with the crank-arm.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents all my improvements as embodied in one machine, Figure lis a plan; Fig. 2, a front elevation; Fig. 3, a side elevation with one of the driving-wheels removed; Fig. 4, a side elevation of a portion of the gearing Fig. 5, a view,

partly in section, of the mechanism for driving the cutters 3 Fig. 6, a side elevation of the inner shoe and cutter-drivin g mechanism.

Two driving-wheels, A A, revolve loosely on a shaft, a, with which they are connected by proper backing-ratehets.

A cast-metal frame, B, is provided with a pipe-box, b, at one end, in which the axle turns freely. The tongue G is secured at its rear end to a flange on this frame and at its front end to a bracket, b', on the frame, thus making the tongue practically a portion of the frame. A seat, D, for the driver, is mounted on the tongue, and projects behind the axle.

An internal spur-wheel, E, on the main axle drives a corresponding pinion, e, (shown in dotted lines in FiO. 3,) on a shaft, e', turning in a pipe-box on the frame.

A supplementary frame, F, vibrates freely in a vertical plane around the pivots f f1 fz.

A universal joint, g, connects the shaft e' with a shaft, g, mounted in proper bearings in the vibrating frame F, and carrying a spurwheel, G, which drives a corresponding pinion, 7L, on a shaft carrying another spiuwheel, H, which, in turn, drives a pinion, '17, on a crankshaft turning in a pipe-box, j, in the frame. These gears are inclosed in a case or box, F1, cast with the frame, and are covered by a hinged lid, F2, by which means the gears are securely protected from dust and dirt.

A balance-wheel, J, on the crank-shaft rotates a crank-arm, k, pivoted to a cross-head, K, which, in turn, oscillates on a pin, l, on which the hinged shoe L oscillates, to which shoe the nger-beam is secured.

The cutters are driven by a short pitman, m,

pivoted to the lower end ofthe cross-head.

A shoe, N, is secured on the inner front corner of the frame in front of the shoe L, which latter oscillates, as before remarked, on a pivot, l, supported by the iixed shoe. A crank-arm, Z', is fixed on the pivot l.

A bail or guard, n, connects the toe of the fixed shoe with the end ofthe crank-arm, and serves to prevent grass from catching at this point.

A lifting-lever, O, vibrates freely on a studaxle projecting from the frame, andu is provided with a detent and tripping-catch, o, of wellknown construction, as well as with two lifting-sectors, P It. A lifting cord or chain, p, .connects the vibrating frame with the sector' P. A similar chain, r, extends from the crankarm l', under a pulley, S, to the sector It.

By this mode of construction the driver is enabled, first, to lift the divider end of the beam, and then, by a continued backward movement of the lever, to lift the heel end also.

I am aware that gear-frames and fin gerbeams have been arranged to vibrate about a gear-center. My invention, on the contrary, enables ine to dispense with this mode of construction.

I claim as :my inventionl. The combination of the main frame, earrying one portion of the gearing, the gearfralne, carrying another portion of the gearing, and vibrating on a pivot parallel with the tongue, but eccentric to any gear-center, and the universal joint for driving the gearing, arranged in the plane of the joint and between the two frames, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the main frame, earrying one portion of the gearing, the gearfralne, carrying another portion of the gearing, and vibrating on pivots parallel with the tongue, t-he universal joint in the shaft connecting the two sets of gearing, the shoe fixed to the vibrating frame, and the hinged fingerbeam, as hereinbefore set forth. The combination of the inain fran1e,ear

rying one portion of the gearing, the gearframe, vibrating eccentrically to any gear-eenter, the gearing, the joint connecting the gearing, the crank-shaft on the vibrating frame, the rocking cross-head, and the cutter-bar, as set forth.

4. The combination of the main frame, earrying one portion of the gearing, the gearframe, Vibratin g on a pivot parallel with the tongue, the gearing, the iixed shoe, the hinged nger-beam, the cutter, the rocking cross-head, and the crank-shaft, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination of the xed shoe, the crank-arm on the pivot of the hinged shoe, and the bail or guard-rod hinged to the fixed shoe and crank-arm, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

CHARLES M. YOUNG.

YVi tnesses:

F. N. CLARK, GnAs. STRAr'roN. 

